lunes, 31 de marzo de 2014

Research about prevention demonstrates the important role of data in informing efforts to reduce problems related to substance use and mental health disorders. SAMHSA funds State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroups (SEOWs) to assist states, jurisdictions, tribal entities, and communities in adopting and implementing the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF). SAMHSA's SPF provides a structure for the selection, funding, implementation, and evaluation of prevention programming.

SEOWs comprise a network of people and organizations that bring data analytics to prevention. The overall goal for SEOWs is to use data to drive and enhance state and community decisions regarding mental and/or substance use disorder prevention programs, practices, and policies. Another goal is to promote positive behavioral and mental health over the lifespan. Guided by the steps of SAMHSA's SPF, SEOWs examine, interpret, and employ data to steer prevention planning and decisionmaking.

The National Institutes of Health will host a scientific symposium and a dedication ceremony March 31- April 1, 2014, to celebrate the completion of the John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center. This state of the art facility brings together neuroscientists from 10 institutes and centers across the NIH in an effort to spur new advances in our understanding of the nervous system in health and disease.

Outside view of the John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center.

The dedication will feature remarks by the honoree, former congressman John Edward Porter, for whom the center is named. Porter was a member of the House Appropriations Committee, chair of the subcommittee that funded NIH, and a staunch supporter of biomedical research and the NIH mission. He served in the House for more than 20 years, representing a district in Illinois.

Other speakers include NIH Director Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill)., and Story C. Landis, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. More than 800 people are expected to attend the dedication and symposium.

The inaugural event for the building is a two-day symposium featuring five scientific sessions with presentations by leading neuroscientists from across the United States and within the NIH. Topics will include presentation on some of the hottest topics in the field today: neuronal circuits, cell biology and the genetics of brain disease.

“The symposium will highlight cutting-edge neuroscience research that is conducted here at NIH and around the country. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring together an esteemed group of scientists and hear about the latest findings in neuroscience,” said Dr. James Battey, director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

As one of the largest neuroscience research centers in the world, the Porter Neuroscience Research Center has 500,000 square feet of open laboratory space and offices, shared resources and facilities, and other design elements meant to foster collaborations among scientists.

“The concept for this building first arose when we saw a need for a place that could bring together scientists studying all aspects of the brain. We are delighted that the Porter Neuroscience Research Center is officially open and look forward to the many innovative discoveries that are bound to come from the programs in that building,” said Dr. Landis.

“Serendipity plays an important role in science. Many great ideas for experiments result from casual conversations between researchers. The open design of the Porter Research Center will certainly encourage those types of interactions,” said Dr. Thomas Insel, director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

The Porter Neuroscience Research Center is made up of two buildings connected by a glass atrium. Construction on the first building began in 2001 and was completed in 2004. The second phase of the center, designed by Perkins+Will, was built with a number of environmentally friendly design features such as solar cells, geothermal energy system, and energy efficient lighting, which make the facility 25 percent more energy-efficient than a conventional laboratory building.

“Phase two of the project faced several unavoidable stops and starts but appears to be have been well worth the wait,” said Gerald Fischbach, M.D., who was one of those who conceptualized the idea more than 10 years ago while serving as the NINDS director.

“We hope people will come from every corner of the earth to see and work in the John Edward Porter Neuroscience Research Center, a magnificent tribute to the most important and challenging scientific endeavor we face – understanding the human brain,” said Dr. Collins.

Media interested in attending the dedication should contact Calvin Jackson (email: cj8e@nih.gov; phone: 301-594-8750) by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 31, 2014. Media are also invited to the scientific symposium, which begins on Monday, March 31 at 9:00 a.m. The link to the registration website is www.nih.gov/porter. The dedication will be webcast live at: http://videocast.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visitwww.nih.gov.

Health Matters for Women

New from CDC

Invasive Cancer Incidence - United States, 2010The age-adjusted annual incidence for all cancers was 405 per 100,000 in females (compared with 414 in 2009). By cancer site, rates were highest for cancers of the prostate, female breast, lung and bronchus, and colon and rectum. These four sites accounted for half of cancers diagnosed in 2010.

Likely Female-to-Female Sexual Transmission of HIV - Texas, 2012This report describes a case of HIV transmission likely by sexual contact between female partners. In this case, other risk factors for HIV transmission were not reported by the newly infected woman, and the viruses infecting the two women were virtually identical.

“The Burning Truth” Initiative LaunchedOn March 24, CDC launched the Burning Truth communication initiative to encourage young people to keep their skin healthy and beautiful for life by protecting themselves from too much exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun and tanning beds. Posters and Web buttons are provided.

Women, Girls and HIV/AIDSLearn how women can protect themselves and their partners from HIV by getting tested, using condoms, and checking with their health care provider about medicines that prevent and treat HIV.

Updated Fact Sheet: HIV Among WomenAt the end of 2010, one in four people living with HIV in the United States were women. Black/African American and Hispanic/Latino women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV, compared with women of other races/ethnicities.

STEM Careers in Public Health for Girls and Young WomenGirls and young women should consider science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes and degrees. Learn how some of the women who work at CDC use their STEM expertise to help keep the nation and world safe and healthy.

Physicians are a Leading Source of Prescription Opioids for the Highest-Risk UsersCDC’s new analysis shows that highest risk users get opioids through their own prescriptions 27 percent of the time, as often as they get the drugs from friends or family for free or buy them from friends. This finding underscores the need for prevention efforts that focus on physicians’ prescribing behaviors and patients at highest risk for overdose.

Say "I Do" the Healthy WayAdd health to your wedding checklist and commit to staying healthy and safe before, during, and after the wedding.

Do You Know about Blood Clots and Travel?Blood clots can be a serious risk for anyone traveling more than four hours. Learn how to prevent dangerous blood clots. Some of the risk factors for blood clots include: older age, obesity, recent surgery or injury, use of estrogen-containing contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, pregnancy and the period after birth, previous blood clot or family history of them, limited movement, and varicose veins.

Special Considerations for Prophylaxis for and Treatment of Anthrax in Pregnant and Postpartum WomenThe purpose of this meeting summary is to provide updated clinical information to health care providers and public health professionals caring for pregnant, postpartum, and lactating (P/PP/L) women (because of their unique immunology and physiology and the complexities of balancing maternal and fetal risks) in the setting of a bioterrorist event involving anthrax. A CME activity exists for this Emerging Infectious Disease journal article.

Trends in Out-of-Hospital Births in the United States, 1990–2012, NCHS Data Brief, No. 144Although out-of-hospital births are rare in the United States, they have been increasing recently. If this increase continues, it has the potential to affect patterns of facility usage, clinician training, and resource allocation, as well as health care costs. This report updates previous analyses to examine recent trends and characteristics of out-of-hospital births, including home and birthing center births, and compares selected characteristics with hospital births.

Preventing Maternal Deaths in Africa BlogMaternal health has improved in most regions of the world, with far fewer women dying during pregnancy and childbirth than 20 years ago. Progress in sub-Saharan Africa, however, has been much slower.

Reviews, News & Commentaries

Perspective: The calculus of cures.Robert Kocher and Bryan Roberts NEJM February, 2014In 2013, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 27 new drugs for marketing. Eight of these drugs are for rare diseases